Defeat of Jesse James Days is an annual community festival held in Northfield, Minnesota. Taking place on the weekend after Labor Day, the festival is dedicated to the Great Northfield, Minnesota, Bank Raid of 1876, one of the most dramatic pages of the Old West history. Defeat of Jesse James Days commemorates the courage of the people that stood up to the James-Younger Gang.
Thousands of people gather in the historic Downtown to see a raid reenactment, staged on Division street, outside of the First National Bank of Northfield. Gang members ride horses, and bullets are flying, making the street seem like a theater stage. Defeat of Jesse James Days also includes an art festival, a car show, a professional rodeo, a bike tour, a 5K run, a tractor pull, live music, and various family-friendly activities.
The festival, which has been held since 1947, is one of the largest outdoor celebrations in Minnesota. Food vendors are set up in Bridge Square, and live performances are played on the stage on Water Street. The festival runs from 6 pm to 7 pm on Friday, from 11 am to 5 pm on Saturday, and from 11 am to 12:30 pm on Sunday.
